- A
Use separate security groups: web allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0; app allows traffic from web security group; db allows traffic from app security group
Security groups can reference other security groups as sources, providing fine-grained control.
- B
Assign the same security group to all tiers and use a single inbound rule
Why wrong: Different tiers have different access requirements; separate security groups are needed.
- C
Place all tiers in the same subnet and use a network ACL to permit all traffic
Why wrong: This would not provide proper segmentation and defeats the purpose of tier isolation.
- D
Configure a network ACL for each subnet with allow rules for the required traffic
Why wrong: NACLs are stateless and require explicit inbound and outbound rules; security groups are more appropriate for this scenario.
CV0-004 Security Practice Question
This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A cloud administrator is designing network security for a three-tier application. The web tier must be accessible from the internet, but the application and database tiers should only be reachable from the web tier. Which security group configuration should be used?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use separate security groups: web allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0; app allows traffic from web security group; db allows traffic from app security group
Option A is correct because it uses separate security groups for each tier, implementing the principle of least privilege. The web tier security group allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0 for internet access, while the app tier security group references the web tier security group as its source, ensuring only traffic from the web tier can reach the application tier. Similarly, the database tier security group references the app tier security group, restricting access exclusively to the application tier. This configuration enforces strict east-west traffic control and prevents direct internet access to the internal tiers.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use separate security groups: web allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0; app allows traffic from web security group; db allows traffic from app security group
Why this is correct
Security groups can reference other security groups as sources, providing fine-grained control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Assign the same security group to all tiers and use a single inbound rule
Why it's wrong here
Different tiers have different access requirements; separate security groups are needed.
- ✗
Place all tiers in the same subnet and use a network ACL to permit all traffic
Why it's wrong here
This would not provide proper segmentation and defeats the purpose of tier isolation.
- ✗
Configure a network ACL for each subnet with allow rules for the required traffic
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless and require explicit inbound and outbound rules; security groups are more appropriate for this scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between stateful security groups and stateless network ACLs, and the trap here is that candidates may choose network ACLs (Option D) thinking they provide similar control, without realizing that security groups support logical references to other security groups, which is essential for dynamic tier-to-tier access in a three-tier architecture.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
NACLs are stateless and require explicit inbound and outbound rules; security groups are more appropriate for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Security groups are stateful, meaning that if you allow inbound traffic, the outbound return traffic is automatically permitted, which simplifies rule management for multi-tier applications. In contrast, network ACLs are stateless and require separate inbound and outbound rules, which can lead to misconfigurations if return traffic is not explicitly allowed. In a real-world scenario, using security group references (e.g., sg-xxxxx as a source) allows dynamic scaling—when new instances are added to the web tier, they automatically inherit the security group and can reach the app tier without updating IP-based rules.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CV0-004 question test?
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use separate security groups: web allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0; app allows traffic from web security group; db allows traffic from app security group — Option A is correct because it uses separate security groups for each tier, implementing the principle of least privilege. The web tier security group allows HTTP/HTTPS from 0.0.0.0/0 for internet access, while the app tier security group references the web tier security group as its source, ensuring only traffic from the web tier can reach the application tier. Similarly, the database tier security group references the app tier security group, restricting access exclusively to the application tier. This configuration enforces strict east-west traffic control and prevents direct internet access to the internal tiers.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CV0-004 exam.
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